Olympique Lyonnais vs Juventus Match Preview & Prediction

Lyon vs Juventus Match Preview & Prediction, Team News, Stats, Head to Head

Juventus travel to France to take on Lyon in what promises to be an intriguing round of 16 clash. Both teams qualified from their respective groups with relative ease with Juventus going unbeaten and topping group D while Lyon finished second in their group behind Leipzig.

Olympique Lyonnais

Lyon have been somewhat inconsistent this season and have suffered major blows with the long term injury to two of their best attackers Memphis Depay and most recently to Jeff Reine Adelaide. Lyon are currently 7th in the French league and despite winning comfortably away at Metz last weekend have currently won only one game in their last 5 league games. They will be hoping to put their domestic form aside as they take on the Italian Giants on Tuesday in a game they will see as extremely vital to their chances of making anything out of their season as we reach the final stages. With the away goal rule in effect, Lyon must defend sturdily to have any chance of keeping Cristiano Ronaldo at bay as a clean sheet, however unlikely would put them in a good position to get something in the return leg.

In team news, Lyon will be without Memphis Depay who ruptured his cruciate ligament in December, ruling him out for the remainder of the season. Jeff Reine Adelaide is also sidelined but in positive news, striker and top scorer Moussa Dembele is set to be available for this one and looks set to carry the goal scoring burden for the French side.

Juventus

Juventus will be looking to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League for a fourth consecutive season.Domestically Juventus are in a battle to retain their Serie A title and compared to previous seasons, This season has been slightly different with Inter Milan and Lazio emerging as credible title rivals, yet Maurizio Sarri will certainly fancy his side’s chances as the season enters its decisive stage.As for the Champions League, it seems that the Italian giants have hit an impressive run of form. Juventus were undefeated in Group D and finished six points ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid. There’s confidence going into this one especially from forward Cristiano Ronaldo who has broken the Seria A record for most consecutive league games with a goal. He and Argentine Paulo Dybala have formed a great partnership and Lyon can expect to have a fight on their hands to keep them off the scoreboard.

In team news, Cristiano Ronaldo is almost certain to start. The Portuguese striker enjoys this time of the season, especially in the Champions League. While Veteran defender and captain Giorgio Chiellini has returned to the side and looks set to start alongside Leonardo Bonnuci in the heart of the defence.